Andrew MacLeod

Andrew MacLeod is a humanitarian lawyer, former UN Chief of Operations, and author who led the international response to the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, widely recognised as one of the world's most successful disaster relief missions. Having negotiated with military dictators, coordinated relief across war zones from Bosnia to Rwanda, and served with the International Committee for the Red Cross, he translates frontline crisis experience into practical leadership insights for business audiences.

Leadership under pressure reveals character, and organisations that fail to prepare for crisis often pay the highest price. Andrew MacLeod is a humanitarian lawyer, author, and former senior United Nations official who specialises in crisis leadership, ethical decision-making, and building organisational resilience in the face of extreme adversity. With a career forged across war zones, natural disasters, and complex humanitarian emergencies, he brings rare insight into what it takes to lead when the stakes are life and death.

Andrew's credentials are grounded in frontline experience few can match. He has held senior positions with the International Committee of the Red Cross and served as Chief of Operations of the United Nations Emergency Coordination Centre, where he led the international response to the 2005 Kashmir earthquake in Pakistan, a mission widely recognised as one of the most effective disaster responses in modern history. His work has taken him from Bosnia to Kosovo, Rwanda to Pakistan, negotiating with military dictators and coordinating relief efforts in some of the world's most volatile environments. Beyond humanitarian operations, Andrew has served as an adjunct professor at King's College London, an adjunct senior lecturer at the University of Tasmania, and an affiliate senior associate to the Center for Strategic International Studies in Washington DC. He is also a board director with multinational corporations, a former managing director of an Australian superannuation fund, and sits on the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board. A commissioned officer in the Australian Army Reserve, Andrew has been awarded the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal twice, along with the Australian Defence Medal.

Andrew translates the principles of crisis leadership into practical tools for business, government, and community organisations. His keynote presentations draw direct parallels between disaster zones and boardrooms, showing leaders how to make sound decisions under pressure, maintain ethical standards when compromised, and inspire teams through uncertainty. Audiences leave with a clearer understanding of what true leadership demands, equipped with frameworks they can apply immediately to their own challenges. His book, *A Life Half Done*, offers a candid and at times controversial reflection on leadership, morality, and service, prompting readers to confront difficult questions about purpose and responsibility. Andrew continues to support charities including The Big Issue Australia, Swags for the Homeless, and the Victorian Youth Mentoring Alliance, ensuring his message of service extends well beyond the stage.